The main components of a data acquisition (DAQ) system are the operator interface, the PC or other data processing and storage device, and the I/O. When specifying a DAQ, here are the top five things to look for:

Open System: all components should adhere to open standards such as Ethernet

Reliability: most DAQ systems are installed in demanding commercial and industrial applications to collect and store critical data, often in harsh environments, so reliability is critical

Low Cost: the closed and proprietary DAQ systems of the past were very expensive, but newer and more open systems are much less expensive, opening up new application areas

Future Proof: closed and proprietary systems can become obsolete, but open systems can last for decades

Wide Variety of I/O Options: the selected supplier should be able to accommodate many different types of device inputs including current, voltage, high-speed counter, etc.

The most critical component of a DAQ system is a rugged and reliable data processing and storage device, like this CompactPCI System from Advantech.